The whole of Liyue Harbor was boiling.
From the stone steps of the harbor to the high terraces of Yujing, people crowded every available space. Merchants, travelers, nobles, and simple townsfolk—all had poured into the streets to witness the once-a-year Rite of Descension.
Flags fluttered, banners waved, and rows of lanterns swung gently in the sea breeze.
From afar, the Jade Chamber floated like an island of light, its silhouette hanging above the clouds.
Kairo and the others joined the stream of people, squeezed their way through the crowd, and finally found a position with a decent view of the ceremony platform.
"It's so crowded…" Paimon's eyes were wide as she spun slowly in the air. "There are even more people than yesterday at the market!"
"That's normal," Kairo said calmly. "It's the one day every year when the Geo Archon descends. For merchants, it's not just a religious event—it's a chance to hear the god's will."
He glanced at the groups of richly dressed merchants near the front.
Some of them were quietly chatting, others nervously clutching documents and ledgers. Beneath their respectful expressions, there was the barely concealed anxiety of people gambling their fortunes on a few words from the divine.
High above, on the Jade Chamber, Ningguang stood with hands clasped behind her back, looking down over the city.
Beside her, Ganyu quietly held a stack of documents, like the most reliable secretary, receiving and organizing reports from the Qixing below.
Though they were too far away to see their faces clearly, Kairo could easily imagine Ningguang's calm, calculating expression and Ganyu's gentle, serious gaze.
The Rite of Descension was a blessing for the people.
For the Liyue Qixing, it was a battlefield of information and strategy.
And this year's rite… would be even more complicated.
Because for Morax, this ceremony was not just another routine appearance—it was his planned exit.
Kairo's gaze sharpened slightly.
He knew very well what was about to happen.
Above the city, the dragon corpse of the "God of Contracts" would fall from the sky.
The whole of Liyue would be thrown into chaos.
And then, like a poisonous seed waiting underground, something else would begin to stir.
——The Ambrosial Arbor.
In his vision, another line of text quietly emerged before his eyes:
[You are wandering through the Luofu when you suddenly sense the Ambrosial Arbor about to erupt once more.]
[This time, the Arbor's reaction is stronger than ever before, and the pressure it emits begins to spill into reality.]
[Facing the imminent eruption of the Ambrosial Arbor, you choose…]
[Option One: Report it to the Ten Lords Commission. You promptly inform them of the Arbor's abnormal activity and urge them to reinforce the seals and defensive measures. (Reward: Arbor-Suppressing Sigil – a special talisman inscribed with ancient restriction patterns that strengthens all sealing effects related to the Ambrosial Arbor.)]
[Option Two: Investigate alone. You decide not to alert anyone, and instead sneak into the shadow of the Ambrosial Arbor to investigate the cause of this eruption alone. (Reward: Sprout of Abundance – a fragment taken from the Arbor's vitality, greatly enhancing your own healing and regenerative abilities.)]
[Option Three: Coordinate with Jing Yuan. You take the initiative to seek out General Jing Yuan, inform him of the situation, and propose a joint operation—using the Arbor's eruption as an opportunity to lure out hidden enemies. (Reward: Path Resonance – Thunder. Further deepens your lightning attribute, greatly increasing your combat strength when using path powers.)]
Kairo fell silent.
The shadow of the Luofu and the Ambrosial Arbor overlapped in his mind with the sight of Liyue's Rite of Descension.
The options shimmered before him, but he already knew his choice.
"Use the chaos as bait and lure everything out at once, huh…"
He couldn't help but think of Jing Yuan's lazy yet razor-sharp gaze.
Between the Ten Lords' bureaucracy, solo reckless heroics, and cooperating with a general who loved using "chessboard tactics"… the third option was practically tailor-made for him.
His thoughts moved—
[You choose: Coordinate with Jing Yuan.]
[You inform Jing Yuan of the Ambrosial Arbor's abnormal reaction.]
[Together, you set up a larger plan around this eruption, using it to lure out all hidden enemies who covet the Arbor.]
[Congratulations. You receive Option Three reward: Path Resonance – Thunder.]
The next instant.
A terrifying force surged through his body again.
It was different from the earlier lightning enhancement; this time, the power was deeper, fusing directly with the path itself.
The lightning that had already been flowing through his meridians now seemed to catch fire, blazing with new intensity. It no longer felt like an external element he had to channel—
it felt like a part of his very being.
Thunder rumbled in his veins, silent yet deafening.
If his previous lightning attribute was like wielding a weapon, then now—
It was like becoming the storm.
Kairo resisted the urge to exhale sharply.
On the outside, he remained still, just another traveler in the crowd.
On the inside, his strength had once again transformed.
"Hey, Kairo?"
Paimon poked his arm.
"You suddenly went quiet. Are you nervous about the Rite of Descension too?"
"…Something like that."
Kairo smiled faintly.
Nervous?
Not exactly.
But the feeling of watching a carefully planned "dragon corpse drop" from the sky… while also coordinating a battle against an entirely different world's disaster in the background—
It did feel a bit surreal.
Soon, the clamoring noise of the crowd gradually died down.
All eyes turned toward the high stone platform of Yujing Terrace.
The Rite of Descension was about to begin.
Zhongli, dressed in his usual calm attire, walked slowly toward the center of the stage.
His steps were unhurried, posture steady, like a mountain walking among men.
To the cheering people of Liyue, he was just a consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
To the Qixing, he was a knowledgeable, eloquent "guest adviser."
Yet Kairo, Ying, and Paimon all knew—
Standing there was the one who had ruled Liyue for millennia:
Morax, the Geo Archon.
"Here we go…"
Paimon gulped nervously, floating closer to Ying.
"Zhongli is going to, uh… 'fake his death' soon, right?"
Kairo's lips curved slightly.
"Mm. And once he does, the real show starts."
Ying took a quiet breath, her expression serious as she stared at the platform.
She could feel it too: beneath all this solemn ceremonial atmosphere, there was a powerful sense of something about to break.
Above the sea, the air pressure subtly shifted.
In the distance, beyond the sight of the cheering crowd, the remains of a dragon started to stir.
At the same time, somewhere far away in another world—
In the shadow of a colossal, twisted tree, lightning flashed silently.
Jing Yuan stood with hands behind his back, gaze calm.
And there, at the edge of the Ambrosial Arbor's shadow, another figure appeared.
Kairo.
Their eyes met.
"Looks like we both enjoy using chaos as a lure," Jing Yuan said with a faint smile.
Kairo returned the look with equal calm.
"Compared to waiting for trouble to find us, it's better to drag everything out into the open on our terms."
Back in Liyue—
The crowd erupted into cheers.
On the platform, Zhongli slowly raised his hand.
The Rite of Descension officially began.
And in Kairo's system prompt, faint text quietly refreshed:
[The Archon falls. The contract ends. Liyue and the Luofu both step into a new chapter.]
[Your path power continues to evolve.]
[From now on, the storm will follow wherever you walk.]
Kairo exhaled softly.
"All right," he murmured.
"Let's see how many storms I can ride out… at once."
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